The Book of Drugs

A Memoir

By: Mike Doughty

Narrated by: Mike Doughty

Mike Doughty first came to prominence as the leader of the band Soul Coughing, then did an abrupt sonic left turn, much to the surprise of his audience, transforming into a solo performer of stark, dusky, but strangely hopeful tunes. He battled addiction, gave up fame when his old band was at the height of its popularity, and drove thousands of miles, alone, across America, with just an acoustic guitar.

His candid, hilarious, self-lacerating memoir, The Book of Drugs - featuring cameos by Redman, Ani DiFranco, the late Jeff Buckley, and others - is the story of his band’s rise and bitter collapse, the haunted and darkly comical life of addiction, and the perhaps even weirder world of recovery.

©2012 Mike Doughty (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll have never been deconstructed with such literary elegance and self-deprecating honesty. I was riveted by Mike's evolution, through relentless hard work, from a neophyte with great musical insights, to a master musician. Most of all, I felt Mike's spirit: his humility, courage and power, and his remarkable transformation from imminent self-destruction to prolific, spiritually transparent artist. This is a tremendously brave and rigorously honest book; funny, sad, jarring and achingly true. He had me from the first page." (Rosanne Cash, author of Composed)
"Hardly your typical rock star memoir. Doughty is brutally honest about life as an addict…. Bringing the writing skill that he has crafted to his underground poetry, magazine articles, and songs, Doughty conveys his message with both despair and humor…. A compelling look at one man's struggle to come to terms with the much-discussed connection between addiction and art." (Publishers Weekly )
"Doughty’s life, as chronicled in these pages, is not so much a revelation for its narrative arc (kid makes the big time, starts in with the dope, the band breaks up, kid is redeemed), as it is for the astonishingly vital, energized, and natural voice contained in its pages, one which never once had a ghost writer presiding over it, likewise its acerbic and sometimes lacerating honesty." (Rick Moody)

From a long time fan

From the jaded perspective of a long time fan of both Soul Coughing and then subsequently Mike’s continuing solo career, this dive into his memoirs was enlightening. Not only the insight to the turmoil endured during the SC days, the look at some songs from the artist point of view was fascinating. The feelings stirred by this book are palpable from a personal journey of bands and drugs. Love and Light Mike!

Excellent

A great audio book, and probably an equally good conventional read. Doughty tells his fascinating story passionately and honestly. He has talent as a writer--the whole book is well written. If he writes a second, I'll read that one too.

Great piece. Can't stop listening.

Like the band and never knew the back story. What a wild ride. Has a HST-esque feel. Great read.

Difficult, but worth it in the end.

Difficult, but worth it in the end.

I started and stopped it many times. I’m glad I saw it through to the end.

fan of doughty

good book. loved the fact that he read it himself.... but feel like the next time I read it...I need to hold the book in my hands.